The New Amsterdam Collection of United States Rarities
July 10, 2019
The New Amsterdam Collection of United States Stamps sold for close to $7 Million on 10th July 2019. Hundreds of floor and internet bidders competed for just 220 lots at auction which took almost four hours to complete. With the final hammer, the New Amsterdam Collection took its rightful place among the most valuable stamp collections in philatelic history.
The New Amsterdam Collection was formed over fifty years ago, its mission to complete spaces in a newly acquired Scott National Postage Album. Most of the material was acquired through Dumont Stamp Company, an old established and respected dealership which was in midtown Manhattan in the 1970s.
Competition was intense, especially for the top items. The absolute highlights of the auction were the two 1867 "Z" Grills, each with a pre-sale estimate of $750,000. The 10c green (Washington) fetched $1,150,000 and 15c gray black (Lincoln) $1,610,000, the latter setting a record for a single United States stamp sold at auction.
Additional rare Grills realized $661,250 for a 3c "B" Grill and $172,500 for a 30c "A" Grill. Other noteworthy results include $287,500 for 1869 30c Pictorial with Inverted flags and $402,500 for 24c Inverted Jenny. A rare 2c coil pair estimated at $300,000 was hammered down at $805,000. All results include Cherrystone's 15% buyer's premium.
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #120 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 1c ultramarine, unused without gum as issued, deep intense and fresh color, with clear 1943 American Philatelic Society Board of Examiners certificate, also 2019 PFC stating reperforated at right and bottom, fine appearance of this rare Continental Bank Note Company Special Printing (Siegel Census records 46 certified examples, of which fewer than ten have perforations all around), ex-Col.Green, Mortimer Neinken, (*) Catalog #167 Catalog Value $14,000 | Price Realized $4,250.00 |
 | Lot #121 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 2c dark brown, unused without gum as issued, deep color, scissors separated as always, few shorter perforations at right, fine and rare Special Printing, with 2019 PFC (Siegel Census records fewer than 60 certified examples, many with perforations into the design) (*) Catalog #168 Catalog Value $6,000 | Price Realized $2,400.00 |
 | Lot #122 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 3c blue green, unused without gum as issued, beautiful color, usual scissors separated perforations at top and right, full perfs at left and at bottom, fine sound example of this rare Special Printing, with 1952 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates (Siegel Census records 36 certified examples, including one on cover. Of these, only three have perforations all around), (*) Catalog #169 Catalog Value $21,500 | Price Realized $5,500.00 |
 | Lot #123 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 6c dull rose, unused without gum as issued, natural straight edge at right, scissors separated at top and bottom, but leaving all perforations intact, tiny perf. Tear at top, well centered and otherwise v.f. example of this rare Special Printing, with clear 1945 APS Board of Examiners certificate and 2019 PFC. Siegel Census records 35 certified examples, approximately half with full perforations on all sides, many with faults, ex-Mortimer Neinken, (*) Catalog #170 Catalog Value $18,000 | Price Realized $4,750.00 |
 | Lot #124 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 7c reddish vermilion, unused without gum as issued, brilliant color and fully intact perforations on all sides, v.f., with 1952 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates (Siegel Census records 71 certified examples plus one uncertified copy, mostly scissors-separated, affecting the perforations on at least one side) (*) Catalog #171 Catalog Value $4,000 | Price Realized $2,600.00 |
 | Lot #125 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 10c pale brown, unused without gum as issued, usual scissors separated perforations at bottom, shorter perf at top, fresh and v.f. Continental Bank Note Company Special Printing, with 1952 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates (Siegel Census records 38 examples, mostly scissors-separated into the perforations on at least one side. Of the eleven copies with full perforations, most have either pulled perforations or are not centered) (*) Catalog #172 Catalog Value $17,000 | Price Realized $6,250.00 |
 | Lot #126 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 12c dark violet, unused without gum as issued, beautiful deep color and well centered for this difficult issue, scissors separated as always, but with mostly intact perforations on all sides, fine, with 1972 and 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates (Siegel Census records 71 examples) (*) Catalog #173 Catalog Value $5,500 | Price Realized $3,250.00 |
 | Lot #127 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 15c bright orange, unused without gum as issued, well centered, brilliant color, scissors separated as always, but with fully intact perforations on three sides, very fresh and splendid 15c Special Printing, only 39 certified examples have been recorded, with 1953 APS Board of Examiners certificate and 2019 PFC, (*) Catalog #174 Catalog Value $15,500 | Price Realized $5,500.00 |
 | Lot #128 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 24c dull purple, unused without gum as issued, well centered for this, usual scissors separated, but leaving mostly intact perforations on all sides, fine and rare Special Printing, only about 100 certified examples recorded, with 2019 PFC, (*) Catalog #175 Catalog Value $3,400 | Price Realized $2,200.00 |
 | Lot #129 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 30c greenish black, unused without gum as issued, fresh color, scissors separated as always, with intact perforations on three sides, fine, Siegel Census records 50 examples of this rare Special Printing, only three or four with perforations on all four sides, this one with1946 APS Board of Examiners certificate and 2019 PFC, ex-Eugene Costales, (*) Catalog #176 Catalog Value $12,000 | Price Realized $4,750.00 |
 | Lot #130 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 90c violet carmine, unused without gum as issued, fresh color, scissors separated as always, with mostly intact perforations on three sides, fine and rare Special Printing, only 46 recorded in the Siegel Census, with 2019 PFC, (*) Catalog #177 Catalog Value $18,000 | Price Realized $5,000.00 |
 | Lot #131 1875 Special Printing of the 1873 Issue 1875 2c carmine vermilion, unused without gum as issued, beautiful fresh color, reperforated at right, fine appearance of this Special Printing, with 1957 (clear) and with 2019 Philatelic Foundation Certificates. Siegel Census records 24 examples, including one in the New York Public Library (this is No.180-UNC-14), of which only roughly half are sound, (*) Catalog #180 Catalog Value $70,000 | Price Realized $16,000.00 |
